Improvement in blast-furnaces



2 Sheets--Sheet I. r

J. F. HARRIS.

Improvement in Blast-Furnaces.

Patented June 25,1872.

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PATENT] OFFIoE. 4

JOHN F. HARRIS, or FORT EDWARD, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLAST-FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,304, dated June 25,1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Smelting or BlastFurnaces, invented by JOHN F. HARRIS, of Fort Edward, Washington county,New York.

My invention consists of, first, a spider bottom and arms, fitted withadjustable valves attached by hinges or joints to the center piecethereof, opening downward, and resting, while open, upon a circularwheel or stop; second, a circular wheel or rest, located under thevalves, and governing their position, when opened, and operated by meansof a pistonrod and screw attachment running through spider bottom and across-bar; third, an iron cylinder with a flange at top extendingoutward, a projection or ledge at bottom extend- 'mg inward, ofsufiicient width to sustain spider bottom, and of sufficient size tohold a charge of stock for furnace, with a cross-bar at top, throughwhich piston-rod passes, and with rods or screw-bolts extending downwardat each end of cross-bar, for the purpose of holding spider bottom inplace fourth, an adjustable combination to be inserted in top forsupplying stock to and distributing stock in smelting or blast furnacesfor the manufacture of iron.

The object of my invention is to properly and uniformly distribute stockin furnaces. The result of such distribution is a great saving of fuel,giving an increased quantity of iron from a given amount of fuel used;the production of a more uniform and better quality of iron; and thebetter protection of the lining and walls of furnaces, by equalizing thecirculation through the entire furnace and re- 'lieving the walls fromthe intense heat caused v by the old method of supply.

Reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawing and model.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a section through the center or axis of thefurnace. Fig. 2 is a plan of my improvement as applied in the top of thefurnace. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of one of the arms of the spider.Fig. 4 is another cross-section of the same arm nearer the center ofspider. Fig. 5 is a rod with screw to hold the spider down.

In Fig. 1, (for the purpose of showing all the parts on a scale on oneview,) the valves, as seen at D D, and the lifting-rods, as seen at E E,are not in their relative position horizontally, but are turnedforty-five degrees from the other parts of the Fig. l but at Fig. 2 theyare seen in their true position with the other parts.

A is the walls of a blast-furnace in the usual mode of construction. Bis an iron cylinder, with its upper flange resting upon the walls of thefurnace, and its lower flange or ledge projecting inward from the loweredge, on which the spider O rests. G is a spider nearly filling theinner diameter of the cylinder B, and resting on a projection at thebottom of the cylinder B. The spider has four openings for valves, asseen at D D D D, Fig. 2, and

has an opening at its center through which the piston-rod I passes, andconnecting segments at o. D D D D are valves, and are attached to thespider O by joints or hinges, as seen at P P. The valves are operated bythe rods or chains E, and by the movement of the lever F are opened andclosed. When closed they closely fit the under side of the spider G, andwhen open they rest on the stopper J. E are lifting-rods or chains, bywhich the valves are'opened and closed. F is a lever for moving the rodsE by a rack and pinion, or other mechanical power, as may be desired. His a strong bar of iron crossing the center of the top of and resting onB. I is a piston-rod with a screw at the top end, fitted to the nut K,by which it is held in its place or moved up and down. It has a circularwheel, J, attached to its bottom end which acts as a stopper'to thevalves D. K is a nut fitted to the screw on the piston-rod I, and byturning the nut K. the stopper J can be raised or lowered, as may bedesired, to open the valves more or less. L is the frame supporting thelever F. N is a space between B and the walls of the furnace which isannular; O is that part of the spider 0 connect ing the arms and fillingthe four spaces between the arms, and is that part of the spider onwhich the outer diameter of the valves touch when shut or closed. I? isthe joint or hinge by which the valves are attached to the spider. r 1'is the place or places where the the required amount of stock for acharge; drop the valves until stopped by the circular rest J. By thisaction the charge or contents are precipitated in furnace, and valvesare immediately closed, when the same operation may be repeated. Theaction of the rest J directs the stock to any desired point in thefurnace at the will of the operator, who controls the whole movement bythe nut K.

Facilities are offered by my invention to prove by actual test theproportion, order, and proper point of discharge of stock, so as toproduce the best results. By the use of the circular stopper the valvescan be adjusted at an inclination of from forty-five degrees to seventydegrees or more. 7

My combination stock-distributer is easily adjusted to and in top offurnace, and can be easily applied to or detached from furnace while inblast. Thespider bottom and its attachments are-so constructed that byremoving the two rods holding it in place they can be easily taken outfor repairs.

When valves are closed the whole adjustment prevents the escape of gasfrom top of furnace. The gas may be taken off for purposes of heatingovens, boilers, escape, &c., in the usual manner, by means of flues orpipes inserted through lining below top of furnace to the space back ofiron cylinder N.

Claim.

